Method and means for shaping the bottoms of shoes



Sept- 7, 1937- H. A. DAVENPORT l 2,092,053

METHOD AND MEANSFOR SHAPING THE BOTTOMS OF SHOES Filed Aug. 19, 1935 1,lll/11111(l Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNITED lS'I'ilT-IEIS PAT-ENT OFFICEvME'IJTIODQAND rMEANS FOR SHAPING THE BOTTOMS F SHOES Application August19,

'18 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of shoes and has moreparticular reference to the applicationfof shaping'r or'levelingpressure to the bottoms of shoes. The invention, in certain .5 importantaspects, is especially applicable to the manufacture'v of shoes theoutsoles of which are secured by stitches passing throughv both theoutsoles and theinsoles, such as Littleway shoes, Whilein other'aspectsit is not thus limited but is generally applicable to the manufacture ofshoes of variouskinds. o

The operation of shaping or leveling the bottoms of shoes has heretoforecommonly been performed either by the useof direct pressure, i. e.,pressure applied simultaneously to the different portions to be pressed,or by the use of pressure applied progressively to the differentportions. In direct pressure leveling, heavy pressure lmust necessarilybe used in order that when distributed over the different portions tobepressed the pressurefper unit of area will be sufficient to effectzthedesired results. A metal mold or form of the desired shape is utilizedto apply the pressure, and the shoe is usually not mounted uponthewooden last upon which it .was made but is supportedby a metallic footor last since'there would be danger kof breaking the Wooden last by theapplication of such heavy pressure. In order to avoid the expense ofproviding a large number of metal forms and lasts for' shoes of varioussizes and styles, and for other reasons, it is accordinglyafrequentprac- .tice to level shoes by progressive pressure. In applyingpressure progressively to different Ypor- 35 tions of the sole, theshoe, mounted uponI its last is operated on by means (generally aroll)which, While it .accommodates itself in some measure tothe bottom of thelast, is not the equivalent of a form complemental to 'the shape` of thelast bottom. For some kinds and conditions of work it has thereforeproved to be difficult tov produce as even andY smooth a bottomisurfaceas desired in a leveling operation whenv the leveling has beenthusnperformed lbetween parts one only of 45 which, i. e., the last, wasa reproduction'of the shape desired. In the manufacture, Vfor 'example,kof womens shoes of the lighter gradesin which the outsoles are. securedby through-andthrough stitching, such as Littleway` shoes, the

i507 stitching, which unites .the outsoles to the upf5 'reason 4oftheirregularity Q1Yl111Venness ofthe 1935, Serial No. 36,769

shoegmaterials between the insole and the outsole, are sometimes ynotentirely removed in the leveling operation and as a result the bottom ofthe shoe is not in the best possible condition for succeedingbottom-finishing operations.

The present invention provides a novel method of pressing the bottoms ofshoes whereby asthe desired contour is imparted to, the bottom face ofthe `sole all of the inequalities, bunches kor ridges that mayexisttherein are entirely removed. In accordance with this method, in oneimportant aspect, there is applied to the bottom of the shoe a formYhaving a contour substantially complemental to the desired contour of ashoe bottom andY through this form leveling pressure is appliedprogressively, as by a roll, to different portions of the shankandforepart of the sole 'to level them. For best results the `form shouldbe of sufliciently hard and tough material to prevent-any substantialdeformation or indentation thereof by irregularities in the sole as theleveling pressure is applied through the form to' the sole, and yet itshould be flexible and resilient enough to permit it to be used forleveling shoes of different sizes and shapes. It has been found thatbalata meets these requirements, this material being preferably notsubjected to vulcanization Ybut molded into the desired shape underpressure and a moderate degree vof heatafter the resins have beenlargely removed therefrom. For the practice of this method there mayadvantageously be utilized machines of the type used heretofore to applyrolling pressure automatically for leveling the outsole, the formbeinginterposed between the roll andthe shoe bottom for.v transmittingthe pressure of the roll to the sole.

In a further important aspect, the invention provides novel -means forcarrying out the abovementioned method, including a form ofsubstantially hardnon-brittle elastic material of the required contourthrough which the pressure of a leveling roll is transmittedprogressively to .different portions of the sole to press it free frominequalities and to impart, for example, to its forepart and shankportions, the desired shape. Preferably the form has an'upper face whichnormally is substantially straightxwidthwise of Ythe `form :and is alsosubstantially straight lengthwise of the form forwardlyand rearwardly ofthe junctionof its forepart and shankpressing portions fto cause theroll to apply substantially l uniform pressure along the forepart andshank progressively by the roll to dierent portions of the sole.

or of straining the sole, especially in the case of shoes that are madeof light materials, such as womens shoes, is avoided.

The invention will now be more particularly described by reference tothe accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a portion of a leveling machine ofthe roll type adapted for use to accomplish the objects of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a form adapted to be interposedbetweenthe leveling roll and the botttom of a shoe, the form being shown asattached to a saddle as in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shaping of the shankportion of the sole; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the shaping of theforepart of the sole.

The machine shown s of the same general type as that shown and describedin detail in various Letters Patent of the United States includingLetters Patent No. 1,667,761, granted on May 1, 1928 upon an applicationof E. E. Winkley and H. A. Davenport. In machines of the type abovereferred to, the shoe is supported on a jack comprising a heel post Illand a toe support l2 and the jack is oscillated about a pivot I4 tocarry the shoe lengthwise back and forth under a spring-pressed roll I6,carried by an arm i8, the arm being so controlled as to tip the rollabout an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe in time relation to themovements of the jack and thus to position it for operating in thedesired manner on diierent portions of the sole. For moving the arm i8downwardly to carry the roll into operative position in automaticallydetermined time relation to the movements of the jack and forcontrolling the pressure of the roll on the shoe in the course of theleveling operation, there is provided mechanism which is substantiallylike that shown in the above-mentioned Letters Patent but modified inaccordance with the disclosure of Letters Patent No. 1,685,387, grantedon September 25, 1928 upon an application of E. E. Winkley and F. V.Hart. 'I'he arm i8 is carried by a vertically movable arm I9 havingpivotally connected to it a vertical link 20 to the lower end of whichthere is pivotally connected on arm 22 pivoted at 2li on the frame 25 ofthe machine. A heavy spring 28 rests at its lower end onv the arm 22 andsupports at its upper end a plunger 3l) which is arranged to be forceddownwardly by a lever 32 pivoted at 34 on the frame 25 and connected bya link 36 to an arm 3S pivoted at 40 on .the frame. The arm 38 carries acam roll 42 arranged to engage a cam 44 which is mounted on a shaft 45and is rotated once in each cycle of operations of the machine. Theshape of the cam 44 is such that at a predetermined time in eachoscillatory movement of the jack the pressure of the roll on the shoebottom is diminished or relieved, the release of leveling pressureusually occurring as the roll approaches the ball line of the shoe inthe inward movement of the jack and Thus any danger of distorting theshoel again as the roll approaches the ball line of the shoe in theoutward movement of the jack. Formed integral with or secured to the cam44 is a second cam 48 arranged to be engaged by a cam-roll 5B carried byone arm of a bell-crank lever 52, pivoted at 54 on the frame 26. Thebell-crank lever 52 has a second arm 56 and connected to the arm 22 is agravity latch 58 which may be swung downwardly to engage the arm 56 orupwardly into a position permitting free relative pivotal movementbetween the arm 22 and the lever 52. The shape of the cam 48 is suchthat with the latch 58 in the position sho-wn in Fig. 1 after the rollI6 has been moved downwardrly into operative position, its pressure onthe shoe will be maintained substantially constant during the wholeleveling operation. For further information with reference ot thedetails of the construction thus far described, reference may be made tothe Letters Patent hereinbefore mentioned.

In leveling the bottoms of shoes, it is particularly desirable that allthe inequalities or bunches that may exist in the sole by reason of theirregularity or unevenness of the shoe materials between the insole andthe outsole be effectively smoothed down and that the ridges that arecaused by the stitches which unite the sole to the upper, for example,in shoes that are stitched through and through, be pressed and smoothedout so as to impart to the shoe an even and regular bottom surface. Inaccordance with this invention, the required pressing or leveling of thesole so as to remove all inequalities, bunches or ridges therein iseifected by the use of a form which, as herein illustrated, is adaptedto cover the shank and forepart of the shoe bottom and to be interposedbetween the roll and the bottom of the shoe for transmitting thepressure of the roll to the sole. To this end there is provided a form60 having a contour substantially complementalto the desired contour ofa shoe bottom and made of sufliciently hard material to prevent anysubstantial deformation thereof by irregularities in the sole under thepressure of the roll. The invention is not limited to the use of a formof any particular material but balata has been found satisfactory forthe purpose in view. Preferably this material, which is a gum obtainedfrom a sapotaceous tree, is not subjected to vulcanization but is moldedinto the desired shape under pressure and a moderate degree of heatafter the resins have been largely removed therefrom. A form rnade ofthis material is sufliciently tough to prevent impressions being formedtherein by irregularities in the sole and yet is suflicientlynonbrittle, elastic, and resilient so that it may readily be used forleveling the bottoms of shoes of various sizes and styles. As hereinshown, the form is substantially plano-concave in cross-sectionlaterally of the shoe, its upper surface being substantially straightwidthwise of the form and also substantially straight lengthwise of theform forwardly and rearwardly of the junction of its forepart and shankportions, the upper surfaces of the forepart and shank portions of theform being inclined somewhat relatively to each other in the generaldirection of the length of the form, In order to avoid any possibilityof staining the sole such as might occur by direct contact of the balatawith the tempered sole, the sole-pressing face of the form is coveredwith a layer of canvas 52 tof which there is cemented a thin layer ofleather, preferably pigskin 64. rmly united to the balata in theoperation of The canvas is v.

molding the balata and serves as a backing to f which the pigskin can besatisfactorily cemented.

The cover of pigskin is provided with marginalv aps 66 -which extendupwardly and are laid inwardly over the upper face of the form which hassecured to it and to the marginal kflaps 6&1 a layer of-canvas 68. Thevpigskin layer, which is very thin, is compressed and becomes veryhardfin the levelingoperation. For'applying the form to the bottom ofthe shoe there is cemented to the upper layer of canvas 68 a saddle 'l0frequently used heretofore in machines of the type herein shown toassist in holding theV shoe onV the jack. The saddle 'l0 is made offlexible leather and is connected at the opposite sides of the shank andforepart of the shoe by springs l2 (Fig. l) to a hand lever 'M which isutilized to apply the saddle and form tightly over the shoe bottom, asshown in Letters Patent No. 1,704,822, granted on March 12, 1929 uponanapplication of mine. With the saddle and form in place on thesole,-the leveling roll lio is made to act in the usual manner over theshank and forepart, the machine preferably. being adjusted, by movementof the latch 58 into theposition shown in Fig. 1, so that the pressureof the roll is maintained substantially constant on the form asoscillatory movements about the axis I4 are imparted to the jack tocarry the shoe rearwardly and forwardly under the roll. The form bridgesany of the minor irregularities of the shoe bottom so that as thepressure of `the roll is applied progressively through the form todifferent portions of the forepart and shank of the sole, theseirregularities are pressed and smoothed out thereby resulting inimparting the desired evenness tothe tempered sole. By reference to Fig.4 it will be observed that because of the shape of the form there willbe no abrupt dropping olf of the roll into the shank such as mightresult-in damage to the last or loss of tension of the spring 28andfconsef quently loss of pressure of the roll on the shank portionofthe sole because of the lowered po-sition of the roll. Furthermore, inoperating upon narrow shank shoes the necessary tipping movementslaterally of the shoe are imparted to the roll to apply the pressure tothe opposite marginal portions of the sole without danger ofinterference between the roll and the side'of the shoe. It will 'beunderstood that as the saddle is pulled in a `direction heightwise ofthe shoe through the springs 'i2 by the downward swingingnmovement ofthelever "M, the'form is pressed firmly against the shoe bottom and exertsdirect pressure on the forepart and shank portions of the sole. In theoperation of the machine as leveling pressure is applied progressivelyby the roll IB through the form '60 to diiferent portions of theforepart and shank of the sole, the form acts to prevent movement of theshoe relatively to the last and to hold the treated portions pressedfirmly against the last While other portions are being acted upon by theroll. Thus any danger of distorting the shoe on theflast or of strainingthe sole especially in the case-of' shoes that are made of lightmaterials, 'such as womens shoes, is avoided. f

While' the form is disclosed as made of balata,V

.any material having the required characteristics can be used. While theinvention is herein illustrated in its application tothe manufacture ofshoes the outsoles'of Whicharesecured by stitches passing throughboththe outsoles and the insoles such as Littleway shoes, itv isv notnecessarily limited to the manufacture of shoes of that particular typesince it is contemplated that the invention may likewise be used withadvantage inthe manufacturel of other kinds of shoes including Weltshoes and also turn shoes;

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby LettersPatent of the United States is:

l. That improvement in methods of pressing the bottoms of shoes whichconsists in applying leveling pressure progressively to diierentportions of the forepart, including the toe end, and the shank of a shoesoleby the use of a roll and a form interposed between-the roll and thebottom of the shoe throughout the length of the forepart and in theshank for'transmitting the pressure of the roll to the sole, the formhaving a contour substantially complemental to the desired contour of ashoe bottom and being of suflciently hard material to prevent anysubstantial deformation thereof by irregularities in the sole un-Y derrthe pressure of the roll so as to remove said irregularities.

2. VThat .improvement in methods of pressing v the bottoms of shoeswhich consists in applying to the entire forepart and shank portions ofthe bottom of a shoe a form of hard non-brittle elastic material havinga contour substantially complemental to the desired Vcontour of theentire forepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom, and operatingthrough the form while the form remains in contact with all portions ofthe forepart and shank of the sole to apply pressure progressively todiiferent portions of the forepart and shank of the sole to level them.

3. That improvement in methods of pressing the bottoms of shoes whichconsists in applying over the entire forepart and shank portions of ashoe sole a form of material harder than the shoe sole, said form beingmolded approximately to the desired contour of the entire forepart andshank portions of a shoe bottom, and applying to said form rollingpressure to cause the form to press and smooth out any irregularitiesthat may vexist in the forepart and shank portions of the sole.

4. That improvement in methods of pressing the bottoms of shoes whichconsists in applying lto the bottom of ashoe substantially from its ytoeto its heel end a form of unvulcanized balata having a contoursubstantiallyfcomplemental to the rdesired contour of a shoe bottom fromits toe to its heel end, and applying pressure-to different portions ofthe form successively to level the entire forepart and shank portions ofthe shoe sole.

5. That improvement in methods of pressing theibottoms of shoes whichconsists in applying pressure heightwise of a shoe to the entireforepart and shank portions of the shoe sole by the use of a form ofhard non-brittle flexible resilient material molded approximately to thedesired contour of the entire forepart and shank portions of ashoebottom, and while thus pressing the sole applying additional pressureprogressively to different portions of the formsuccessively to assist inremoving any irregularities that may exist in the forepart and shankportions of the sole.

6. That improvement in methodsvof pressing `the bottoms of shoes whichconsists in applying to the bottom ,of a shoe a form of unvulcanizedderesinated balata molded approximately to the '7. That improvement inmethods of pressing the bottoms of shoes which consists in applying tothe bottom of a shoe a molded form of material harder than the sole, theform extending along the shank and forepart of the shoe substantiallyfrom the heel breast line forwardly to the toe end of the shoe andhaving a sole-pressing face substantially complemental to the desiredcontour of the forepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom, pullingupon said form in the direction of the height of the shoe to hold ittightly against the bottom of the shoe, and While thus pulling upon theform applying thereto rolling pressure to level the forepart and shankportions of the sole.

8. That improvement in methods of pressing the bottoms of shoes whichconsists in applying over the bottom of a shoe a saddle to which thereis secured a molded form of unvulcanized balata from which the resin hasbeen largely removed, the form having a sole-pressing face substantiallycomplemental to the desired contour of the forepart and shank portionsof a shoe bottom, pulling upon the saddle at the opposite side-s of theshank and the forepart in the direction of the height of the shoe tohold the form tightly against the bottom of the shoe, and while thusholding the form pressed against the bottom of the shoe applying rollingpressure thereto to level the shoe bottom.

9. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, the combination witha shoe support and a roll for applying leveling pressure progressivelyto the forepart and shank portions of the shoe sole, of a form mountedon the machine so as to be interposed between the roll and the shoebottom along the whole of the forepart and shank portions of the shoebottom for transmitting the pressure of the roll to the sole, said formbeing molded approximately to the desired contour of the whole of theforepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom and being of sufficientlyhard material to prevent any substantial deformation thereof byirregularities in the sole under the pressure of the roll so as toremove said irregularities.

i0. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a shoe support, aform of material harder than the sole of a shoe for engaging the wholeof the forepart and shank portions of the sole, said form having acontour substantially complemental to the desired contour of the wholeof the forepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom,

.means for applying the form to the bottom of a shoe on said support,and means for applying rolling pressure to the form to level theforepart and shank portions of the sole.

l1. In a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, the combination witha shoe support and means for applying leveling pressure progressively tothe forepart and shank portions of the sole of a shoe on said support,of a form of hard non-brittle elastic material mounted on the machine soas to be interposed between the pressureapplying means and the bottom ofthe shoe for transmitting the pressure of the pressure-applying means tothe whole of the forepart and shank portions of the sole, said formhaving a contour substantially complemental to the desired contour ofthe forepart and shank portions of a shoe bottom.

1 2. A machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes having, in combination,a shoe support and a roll relatively movable to level the forepart andshank of the sole of a shoe on said support, and a form of hardnon-brittle elastic material for transmitting the pressure of said rollto all portions of the forepart and shank of the sole, said form havinga sole-pressing face substantially complemental to the desired contourof all portions of the forepart and shank of a shoe bottom and an upperface substantially straight rearwardly of its forepart portion.

13. A machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes having, in combination,a shoe support and a roll relatively movable to level the forepart andshank of the sole of a shoe on said support, and a form for transmittingthe pressure of said roll to all portions of the forepart and shank ofthe sole, said form having a sole-pressing face substantiallycomplemental to the desired contour of a shoe bottom and an uppersurface formed by two at faces extending lengthwise of the form at anangle to each other.

14. A machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes having, in combination,a shoe support and a roll relatively movable to level the sole of a shoeon said support, and a form of unvulcanized balata molded approximatelyto the desired contour of the forepart and shank portion of a shoebottom for transmitting the pressure of said roll to all portions of theforepart and shank of the sole.

15. A machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes having, in combination,a shoe support and a roll relatively movable to level the forepart andshank of the sole of a shoe on said support, a form of hard non-brittleflexible resilient material arranged to extend along the shank andforepart of the shoe bottom for transmitting the pressure of the roll tothe sole, said form having a solepressing face shaped approximately toconform to the desired contour of a shoe bottom and covered with a thinlayer of leather, a sheet of nexible material arranged to be interposedbetween said form and the roll, and means for applying to the sheet offlexible material at each side of the shoe a pull in the direction ofthe height of the shoe.

16. For use in a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a saddle offlexible leather having secured thereto a form of hard non-brittleresilient material adapted to cover the bottom of the shank and forepartof a shoe, said form being shaped approximately to the desired contourof a shoe bottom and having its sole-pressing face covered with pigskin.

17. For use in a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a saddle ofiiexible leather having secured thereto a form of material harder thanthe leather of the sole of the shoe operated upon and adapted to coverthe bottom of the shank and orepart of a shoe, said form being shapedapproximately to the desired contour of a shoe bottom.

18. For use in a machine for pressing the bottoms of shoes, a form ofhard non-brittle elastic material having a sole-pressing face shapedapproximately to conform to the desired contour of the forepart andshank portions of a shoe bottom and a face opposite its sole-pressingface formed b-y substantially plane surfaces inclined Yrelatively toeach other in the gen-eral direction of the length of the form.

HERMAN A. DAVENPORT.

